NB: as of 23 September 2008, all new artSMart articles are being published on the site news.artsmart.co.za.

ARTS & CULTURAL FAIR
(article first published : 2006-04-3)

Durban Arts Association is proud to be associated with this year’s historical programme of the 116th Annual Mount Edgecombe Arts & Cultural Fair taking place in Mount Edgecombe over the Easter Weekend from April 13 to 17.

The Shri Miriammen Temple was established in 1890 by Indian indentured labourers working in the sugar fields of Mt Edgecombe. During the Christian observance of Good Friday and Easter Monday, the Indian community who are not Christian used the Good Friday in particular to pay homage to Mother Mariammen which became a tradition and custom to pray and pay homage to their god during this period.

Since then the Shri Mariammen Temple has drawn the large number of devotees and well-wishers outside of India. Approximately 200,000 devotees and well-wishers are expected to converge on the temple, which is situated in an area that has an Indian population of about 500,000 people.

Over the past 30 years the temple society has successfully hosted a cultural programme which runs concurrently with the prayer. For the past 10 years multi-cultural programmes and “cross-community” programmes have been introduces to build a united South Africa.

The highlight of the cultural programme this year will include the Mahatma Gandhi Satyagraha Centenary Celebrations and the Centenary celebrations of the Bhambatha Kamancinza Uprising. These celebrations have been endorsed by President Thabo Mbeki in his State of The Nation Address and subsequently by the Premier of KwaZulu-Natal in his State of the Province Address.

The line up also includes artists coordinated by Durban Arts as partners of the event. For further information contact Durban Arts on 031 312 1236 or the Shri Mariammen Temple Society on 031 502 1232.